Micky Dolenz

This article is about the singer in The Monkees. For the Oklahoma state representative, see Mickey Dollens.

Born: George Michael Dolenz Jr.
March 8, 1945 (age 73), Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names: Mickey Braddock

Instruments: Vocals, drums
Labels: Colgems, RCA, Bell, MGM, Arista, Rhino, 7A Records
Associated acts: The Monkees, Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart
Website: mickydolenz.com

George Michael Dolenz Jr. (born March 8, 1945) is an American actor, musician, television director, radio personality and theater director, best known as a vocalist and drummer of the 1960s pop/rock band the Monkees.

Life and entertainment career

Dolenz was born at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital (now Cedars-Sinai Medical Center), in Los Angeles, California, the son of actors George Dolenz and Janelle Johnson. He has three younger sisters, Gemma Marie ("Coco"; born April 5, 1949), Deborah (born 1958), and Kathleen ("Gina"; born 1960). Gemma's nickname, Coco, is a shortened form of "Coco Sunshine", a nickname given to her as a child by Micky. Coco was a frequent guest on the set of The Monkees TV show and sometimes a guest performer on records by The Monkees, singing background vocals or duetting with Micky. She often performs as a member of Micky's backing band during his concerts.

Circus Boy



Dolenz as Corky

Dolenz began his show-business career in 1956 when he starred in a children's TV show called Circus Boy under the name Mickey Braddock. He played Corky, an orphaned water boy for the elephants in a one-ring circus at the start of the 20th century. The program ran for two seasons, after which Dolenz made sporadic appearances on network television shows and pursued his education. Dolenz went to Ulysses S. Grant High School in Valley Glen, Los Angeles, California, and graduated in 1962. In 1964, he was cast as Ed in the episode "Born of Kings and Angels" of the NBC education drama series, Mr. Novak, starring James Franciscus as an idealistic Los Angeles teacher. Dolenz was attending college in Los Angeles when he was hired for the "drummer" role in NBC's The Monkees.